The Foundation of Christianity: Forgiveness

Many people recognize that they are sinners, however still do not want to come to church or nurture a relationship with Christ. One big reason is that they want to clean up their life so they can become worthy to be a Christian. It's so frustrating to come across this, because much of the New Testament is written to combat this thought. The whole idea of the Gospel is that we are never worthy, and through Christ alone we are saved. Jesus and the apostles spent much time trying to get other Jews to see this. The Jews had the same mindset that many people today do. That they have to do so many things right, to be worthy to commune with God. The Jews found this through the Law, while people today find it through whatever morality they subscribe to. The whole point of Jesus coming was to once and for all, deal with the problem of sin. Not through anything that we can do, but based on the righteousness of him alone.

"nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified."

(Galatians 2:16 NASB 1995)

" He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

(2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB 1995)

"and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."

(1 Peter 2:24 NASB 1995)

Through NOTHING we did, we are saved. It is through Jesus Christ ALONE that our sins are forgiven. Through his merciful forgiveness he paid the price for our sin, and it is charged to us no more. Therefore, who are we to hold grudges in this world? The devastating effects of our sin was laid unto a perfect savior (causing him to die when he shouldn't have) and he still forgave us, remembering them no more. Yet we still remember minor things that others do to us. Someone cuts us off in traffic and we throw a fit. Another may insult our family and we as men take it personally. We don't think the referee did a good job calling our kid's ball game and we hold on to it for the rest of the season. When we look at these things in the scope of what Christ Jesus did for us, it seems ridiculous.

"21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

(Matthew 18:21-22 NASB 1995)

Jesus here doesn't mean just forgive 490 times, he means keep forgiving. Jesus forgives us of all, not just the first 490 times. For that I am incredibly thankful, because I would have passed that long ago. He forgives us of all, and that's what we are to do as well. I can't think of any greater hypocrisy, than to receive salvation through ultimate forgiveness, and not pass that on for the world to see. Likewise, what greater testament to the power of our savior, than for others to see unbounded forgiveness through us.